Express -15 Year Anniversary Edition

express The official magazine of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express

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INDEX 2: Fifteenth Anniversary Commemorative Poster 4: Messages from the Executives 6: 15 Fun Facts 7: New Mexico Rail Runner Express - How It All Started 8: Riding the New Mexico Rail Runner Express 9: What They Are Saying 10: 15 Years on the Rails 12: Express Magazine - We’ve Got You Covered 13: History in the Making 14: Memorable Promotional Items 15: Years of Memories in Print 16: Always in Season 17: Out in the Community 18: New Mexico Rail Runner Express Station Openings

RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS

9400 Holly Avenue NE, Ste. 202 Albuquerque, NM 87122 (505) 259-7969

PUBLISHERS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

WRITERS

MATT GANTNER WILLIAM HALSEY

MICHAEL JIRON ASHLEY CONNER DANA BENJAMIN

ALLYNE CLARKE RIANN MARTINEZ

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express Magazine is published three times a year by Moon Dog Publishing and the Rio Metro Regional Transit District. The Publisher and Rio Metro Regional Transit District do not take responsibility for the accuracy or legitimacy of the advertiser’s message or that of the guest writer/columnists (including photos) or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the magazine. Moon Dog Publishing reserves the right to edit all articles for accuracy and style. For more information and advertising rates, call (505) 350-8695 or (505) 259-7969.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.RIOMETRO.ORG WWW.TRAVELNEWMEX.COM www.riometro.org | www.travelnewmex.com |

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DEWEY CAVE

Bringing back a traditional mode of transportation to compliment the existing transportation options in the region has certainly been a learning curve of major proportions, but when I look back on all that’s been accomplished in the last 15-years, I realize that it has also been a true testament to the dedication of this organization and those who have supported us along the journey.

While many of the early milestones such as negotiating track rights-of-way, building train stations, and acquiring rolling stock were to be expected…some of the more recent and unforeseen challenges have been among our biggest.

Most notable of course was something that no one could have predicted - a global health crisis that put the brakes on Rail Runner passenger service for just shy of one full year. And I might add that even before Covid-19 became a reality, we were dealing with the earlier and also somewhat unforeseen challenge of implementing a $50-million-dollar federal safety enhancement called Positive Train Control – or “PTC”. These two things alone presented some of the toughest hurdles for the Rail Runner, and yet we’ve managed to get through them and power ahead.

In just 20 months, Rio Metro and its partners installed, tested and implemented PTC faster than any other railroad in the US. This is a state-of-the-art system when it comes to passenger safety, as it prevents trains from colliding with one another, derailing due to excessive speed, and moving through red “stop” signals and switches in the wrong position.

Suffice to say, running a public transportation system is a delicate balancing act between keeping our operating costs reasonable and providing the convenient and efficient service our passengers have come to know. We appreciate all of the support we have received from our loyal passengers in the past 15-years, and we want you to know that we look forward to many, many years of continued commuter rail service on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.

Thanks for your support,

Dewey V. Cave Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments

DIANE GIBSON

We all know that transportation is so vitally important to the health and well-being of a region, and so as we celebrate 15-years of Rail Runner service, we see that one of the key components that has bonded our communities here in central New Mexico is our commuter rail system.

I feel very fortunate to have served as Board Chair of the Rio Metro Regional Transit District for the last few years now – not only because of the many important milestones I’ve gotten to witness along the way…but also because it gives me great satisfaction to be part of an organization that is dedicated to identifying transportation alternatives and solutions for those living, working, and recreating right here in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley.

As we look at the direction we are headed, we see that in addition to connecting commuters, the Rail Runner can – and already is – connecting New Mexico’s cultural corridor. There are so many wonderful daytrips and excursions throughout the central region where the train runs, that we cannot discount the value of the Rail Runner when it comes to the tourism arena.

I want to thank my fellow Rio Metro Board members, as well as the dedicated staff of Rio Metro for all their hard work in keeping everything running smoothly through the last decade-and-a-half. It is through maintaining a common sense approach that we will be able to create sustainability as we forge ahead into the future.

Here’s to many more miles ahead,

Diane Gibson Rio Metro Board Chair Albuquerque City Council, District 7

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TERRY DOYLE

Happy 15th Anniversary Everyone!

To say we’ve come a long way in the past 15-years, would truly be the understatement of the century! While I am reminded of some of the hardships we have been faced with through the years, I am also thankful to be able to look back and see how those events have proved to be valuable lessons along the way – lessons that will serve to make us more resilient, and also make us better decision-makers in the next 15-years of New Mexico Rail Runner service.

With the pandemic slipping farther into the background, we can now take stock once again in those foundational building blocks that make the Rail Runner the crown jewel, so to speak, of central New Mexico’s multi-modal transportation system.

For starters, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express provides service seven days a week to 15 stations along a 97-mile corridor that runs through Valencia, Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, linking numerous communities and tribes in the process.

We can talk about the fact that the Rail Runner has taken over 100-million vehicle miles off of area roadways, and we could also point to the fact that the Rail Runner and it’s nearly 70-bus connections provide access to jobs and services throughout central New Mexico to destinations as far north as Taos and as far south as Socorro.

Suffice to say, I think you get the idea – the New Mexico Rail Runner Express has been an important “connector” of both people and places for the better part of 15-years, and that connection is only going to get stronger as we move into the future.

As the Director of Rio Metro, I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the many elected officials who serve on our Rio Metro Board, as well as our very dedicated Rio Metro staff members, and our riders and supporters who have supported us through thick and thin the last 15-years. Here’s to all of you! We’ll keep counting the miles and the milestones and look forward to many more years with the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.

Best,

Terry Doyle Director of Rio Metro Regional Transit District

LAWRENCE RAEL

I will never forget the first day of Rail Runner service back in July of 2006 – word about the train had spread to such a degree that the mid-day train provided standing room only! There were so many major milestones leading up to the start of Phase One: from taking delivery of the five locomotives and 10-rail cars…to construction of the train stations….to development of a service schedule and fare policy. To this day, it is daunting to think of all we accomplished leading up to that first day 15-years ago.

It seemed that as soon as we got train-to-track, there was little time to waste getting started on Phase Two – and by December 2008, we saw the extension of commuter rail service to Santa Fe completing the 100 mile rail corridor through the heart of the Rio Grande Valley.

To fully understand how the New Mexico Rail Runner Express came to be the fastest start-up of a commuter rail system in the country to this day, we must look at the key milestones that happened along the way. In 2001, I was happy to lead the effort and present to the New Mexico Legislature the benefits of passing a resolution allowing communities throughout the state to form their own transit governing bodies or “regional transit districts”. Fortunately, that structure was in place when the Rail Runner project started, which paved the way for the creation of Rio Metro.

I would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the leadership of then Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico Legislature for having the courage to invest in such a forward-thinking project.

Once that key piece was in place and with the Rail Runner about to extend service to Santa Fe…voters in three of the four counties served by the train overwhelmingly supported an initiative to help fund Rail Runner operations into the future. Now with the help of NM Gross Receipts Tax and federal funding.

And so, as we mark another milestone, it gives me great satisfaction to have been part of an effort dedicated to identifying transportation alternatives and solutions for those living, working, and recreating in Central New Mexico.

Here’s to staying on track well into the future,

Lawrence Rael COO City of Albuquerque and former MRCOG Executive Directorwww.riometro.org

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What you may not know 12,751,938 Total number of passengers 445,955 Total number of bicycle boardings 76,947 Total number of PNA boardings (Passengers Needing Assistance) 545,345,428 Number of passenger miles taken off area roadways 136 Total number of bicycle lockers at Rail Runner stations 60 Number of buses connecting to the train between Taos and Socorro 180 Number of public appearances by Trax, the Rail Runner Mascot 21+ Number of months it took to construct/build the Rail Runner 79 mph Top speed the Rail Runner can travel through the corridor 100 Miles of track the Rail Runner operates on 139 Number of people each passenger car is designed to carry 8 Number of bicycles each passenger car is designed to hold 1,337 Number of stops the Rail Runner makes in a week

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I have been working for Rio Metro and the Rail Runner for sixteen years. On a day to day basis, I oversee the operations of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express; I also oversee dispatch.

The Dispatch Center works 365 days a year; we are a 24/7 operation. I have a lot of pride that I’ve been here since day one, and have been a part of everything, and seen a lot of growth of the Rail Runner from conception to where it is right www.riometro.org | www.travelnewmex.com now.

- Matthew Stone, Operations

9 Number of times movie or TV productions have filmed on the Rail Runner 69,334 Number of rides taken by seniors 62+ as part of the Seniors Ride Free program

As of May 31, 2021

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Supervisor, Rio Metro RTD/ New Mexico Rail Runner Express

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New Mexico Rail Runner Express - How It All Started In 2003, the New Mexico Regional Transit District Act (Chapter 73, Article 25, NMSA 1978) was passed, enabling the formation of multi-jurisdictional transit agencies. The purpose was to: • Provide safe and efficient regional transit services • Reduce congestion, crashes, and pollution caused by single-occupant vehicles • Extend the life of the state’s roads by reducing traffic • Provide transportation alternatives to residents, particularly transit-dependent groups such as seniors, youth, low income, and mobility-impaired residents • Provide residents with better access to education and higher-paying jobs • Reduce oil dependence On March 29, 2005, the New Mexico Transportation Commission approved the formation of the Mid-Region Transit District, encompassing Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Valencia counties, as well as most of the cities, towns, and villages within those counties. At the same time, the MidRegion Council of Governments (MRCOG) was proceeding with plans for a commuter rail between Belen and Santa Fe the New Mexico Rail Runner Express - which began operating between Downtown Albuquerque and the U.S. 550 Station in July 2006. The service soon expanded to Los Lunas and Belen, and in December 2008, the route was completed as trains began running to Santa Fe. In 2008, the Mid-Region Transit District was renamed the Rio Metro Regional Transit District (Rio Metro) which assumed management of the Rail Runner from MRCOG in 2009.

Three years prior to the opening of the Rail Runner service, then Governor Bill Richardson decided it was time to connect bedroom communities with opportunities for jobs and education using a commuter rail system from Belen to Santa Fe. Gov. Richardson set a five-year timeline for construction and formulated a partnership between the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) to implement the service.

From the beginning the NMDOT/MRCOG team knew that an innovative approach would be required to meet project deadlines. Fortunately, they had the leadership and experience in place at the NMDOT and MRCOG to implement large scale projects while generating community support.

Lawrence Rael, the executive director of MRCOG at that time, was a hands-on, on-the-ground supervisor. His past experience provided the insight that would prove useful when it came time to building a commuter train. Then NMDOT Secretary Ronda Faught also played a critical role in many aspects of the project, including managing the team, policy and financial strategies, and decisions. In addition, a large part of the new

track extension required for the Santa Fe service was implemented utilizing the NMDOT’s design build process and in house expertise.

Rail Runner Signing Ceremony

THE PRICE TAG The total cost of building Phase I of the commuter rail, Belen to Bernalillo, was $133.2 million. Phase II, Belen to Santa Fe, added $270.6 million, for a total of $403.8 million. By comparison, the Utah Transit Authority built both phases of the Frontrunner - a 100-mile line - for $1.2 billion. New Mexico’s money was spent on 7,200 tons of steel rail, 79,000 concrete ties, 3.5 million pounds of rebar, 2 million cubic yards of earthwork, a modern signal system, 9 locomotives, 22 cars and 58,000 feet of guardrail. A total of 15 stations were built along a 100-mile corridor with park and ride facilities, connecting metropolitan areas to Native American pueblos, affordable housing, hospitals, universities, and employment centers.

FUNDING THE OPERATION When Rail Runner service began in 2006, the operations were paid for using Federal Highway Administration Congestion Management Air Quality funding with matching funds provided by the fares, state and local sources. In November 2008, Rio Metro and the North Central RTD each passed gross receipt tax ballot measures to help support the rail operations and provide other transit services in their respective districts.

Then in 2011, the Rail Runner began to receive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Fixed Guideway funding based on its operations. This was new annual funding coming into the state because Rail Runner was operating, and without the Rail Runner these funds would be distributed to other commuter rail operations across the country. Today, 100% of the operations and maintenance costs are paid for with transit district gross receipt taxes generated in the four counties that the service operates in and FTA formula funds that are based on the Rail Runner operations and fare box. Rio Metro operates the Rail Runner under a memorandum of agreement with the NMDOT who owns the territory and the rolling stock. Rio Metro and NMDOT work cooperatively to develop the annual operating and maintenance budget to ensure the territory and rolling stock is well maintained and the system is sustainable. No state funds are used to support the operations and maintenance of the system.

The Rail Runner operates seven days a week. More than 60 connecting bus and shuttle routes move riders throughout the Rio Grande Valley as far south as Socorro and north to Taos.

Those riders include veterans, employees, recreation and tourism, and students destined for one end of the line or the other.

As with any transit system, rider demand is a critical element in determining public transportation supply. The Rail Runner’s future is as bright as the colorful feathers on its locomotives as we look to achieving more milestones.

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Riding the New Mexico Rail Runner Express Sure, trains are always fun to watch as they travel towards intriguing new destinations. But they’re so much more fun to ride! Every day, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express makes 22 trips through 15 stations along a 100-mile corridor between Santa Fe and Belen, with stops in Los Lunas, Albuquerque, and the historic town of Bernalillo along the way. Hop onboard and bring along coffee and snacks to savor during your trip; enjoy the tranquility of a favorite book; or take in the picturesque view from your comfortable red seat.

Employees, business owners and students find the morning commute a time to relax before the day kicks into high gear. Seniors 62+ ride free on Wednesdays is so popular that this day often sees an uptick in ridership.

As with most public transportation in the state, Veterans also ride free on the train. It’s given many an opportunity to move outside of their comfort level and engage with other Veterans and riders. Children 9 and under ride free, and parents and grandparents love to see their kids’ excitement being on the train.

For the leisure rider, there is a plethora of activities, entertainment, dining and shopping to indulge in. With stops at Isleta Pueblo and Sandia Pueblo, and bus connections to their casinos and entertainment centers, there is much to do. From the Harvey House Museum and Belen Arts District within walking distance of the Belen Station to Museum Hill in Santa Fe by a shuttle from the Santa Fe Depot Station, there is no shortage of places to pique your cultural interest. And while in Santa Fe, walk or take the shuttle to the Plaza, where there are several more museums like the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, and where you’ll find some of the best dining, Native American pottery, and southwestern jewelry to rival any area. The oldest hotel in the country, La Fonda on the Plaza, is also located nearby. With more than 60 bus connections provided by our transit partners throughout central New Mexico, you can travel as far south as Socorro and north to Taos.

While onboard the train, your seating options are the lower level, the upper level, and the mezzanine. The mezzanine and the upper level both have tables, and wifi is available on the train. The train is outfitted with 44 digital screens (2 per car), 40 inches wide, which allow businesses and organizations to display advertisements about services, upcoming events, education, and recruitment opportunities in a clutterfree environment.

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screens each; ads are viewed simultaneously on all 52 screens. They are also used to inform riders about our services at Rio Metro Regional Transit District.

Each train set includes a restroom; a typical train set is four cars and a locomotive. The train operates on a Push-Pull System, which means the locomotive is always facing south.

While waiting to board the train, information on the kiosk at each station platform includes posters for the train schedule, bus connections, fares, and an Emergency Call button. At almost every station, there are bike racks and bike lockers, and designated bike space on the train.

Many daily commuters find this advantageous as it helps them get around at the end of their destination.

The Rail Runner is a great connector to outdoor activities.

Along the corridor, the North Diversion Channel Trail is steps away from the Los Ranchos/Journal Center Train Station, and the Santa Fe Rail Trail near the Santa Fe Depot Train Station is also good for hiking and backpacking.

Through the Customer Service Department, riders who sign up for Rider Alerts are informed of any daily changes/delays to the train schedule. These are also posted on the Twitter Alert found on the homepage of our website, riometro.org.

Rio Metro’s website gives you everything you need or want to know about the organization, broken down so it’s easy to navigate. It’s updated regularly, and the Metro Spotlight features key news items. The use of social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, keeps our riders and the community engaged.

As the state’s only commuter train, with its emphasis on the morning and evening commutes and fewer trains on the weekends, the Rail Runner continues to provide safe, accessible, efficient transportation service for the benefit of our diverse local communities.

Meep, Meep!

What They Are Saying

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Bernalillo County has been advertising with Rio Metro for the past five years. I think advertising on the train has been great! Bernalillo County tends to use the Rail Runner advertising for a lot of our special events. We like to do seat drops as well as the digital monitors, and we use this as a key part of all our outreach and advertising campaigns. I find using the Rail Runner as an advertising tool to be simple; the staff is always pleasant and engaging, and we can get things turned around in a really timely manner.

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- Carrie Moritomo, Community Engagement & Outreach Manager, Bernalillo County

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Day of the Tread is a Day of the Dead themed cycling event in Albuquerque. This is our fifteenth year of Day of the Tread, and we started about the same time the Rail Runner started. We started working with the Rail Runner to provide Trax, the Mascot, and we would launch riders; and the kids loved Trax.

Then about eight years ago, we started the Rail Runner ride where folks ride from Albuquerque to the Rail Runner Station up in Los Ranchos. We load the bikes on the Rail Runner and the riders, and they ride the train back. It’s a really great partnership we’ve had with the Rail Runner over the years.

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- Tom Parker, Event Director, Day of the Tread

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The first time I rode the Rail Runner was probably about 12 years ago. I’ve used the Rail Runner mainly for taking trips to Santa Fe. Last year, I took my grandkids up during the Legislative session and we walked over to the Roundhouse; we had lunch, we went to the Plaza. I like riding the train because for me it’s relaxing, you can enjoy other’s company.

I would like to encourage everyone to try the Rail Runner. It’s easy to navigate, the staff is friendly, and it’s fun!

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- Janis Powell, Rider

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2016 / Train to the Bugg Lights Holiday Exhibit in Belen 2006 / Opening Day First Passenger Boarding

2006 / First Train Cars Leave the Factory

2013/ First Annual Santa’s Villag

2012 / Express Train Service Begins

2013

2010 / Shakespeare on the Rail

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2006 2008

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Fifteen Years on the Rails

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July 14, 2006 Opening Day – Service begins in Albuquerque & Bernalillo December 17, 2008 Service extended north to Santa Fe

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2016 / Day of the Tread Trax Appearance 2015 / Balloon Fiesta & Rail Combo Pass

2019 / National Senior Games Torch Bearer Rides Train 2014 /All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Legendary Women in Baseball Celebration

2014 / National Train Day Albuquerque

3 / ABQ Twinkle Light Parade

™

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

to local authorities.

2017 / NM Law Enforcement Memorial Ride

14 / Zozobra Train

If You See Something Say Something™ used with permission of the NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

May 2, 2014 First appearance of Trax, the Rail Runner Mascot

April 24, 2017 15th Station - Zia Road Station

Call 9-1-1

March 8, 2021 Passenger service resumes after COVID-19 shutdown

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2014

2017

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Express Magazine – We’ve Got You Covered After a brief hiatus, The New Mexico Rail Runner Express re-launched its own onboard publication in 2014, now called “Express”. The magazine is a popular reading material on the train, and it is also distributed to several zip codes in the area. It features timely stories, an events calendar, and things you need to know about riding the train. This retrospective features covers from those publications.

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History in the Making The New Mexico Rail Runner Express has redefined public transportation in New Mexico. The commuter railway plays a major role in connecting communities with jobs, education, entertainment and more throughout the central part of the state. These images capture the construction, history, and significant milestones of the Rail Runner over the past 15 years.

Manufacturing: Engine Car

Manufacturing: Passenger Car

Stenciling

Rollout of First Train

Manufacturing: Paint Job

Belen Station Groundbreaking

Express Train Media Release One-Millionth Rider Inuagural Run

Santa Fe Inuagural Run

Belen Station Opening Full Scale Mock Training with NM Army National Guard

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Memorable Promotional Items

What’s a train without fun giveaway items! The Rail Runner’s bird head logo is so iconic that the many promotional items created over the years are often kept as momentos. From keychains to yo-yos, station pins to paper trains, thousands have been distributed at community events. Trax, the Rail Runner Mascot, even has his own line of promotional items which include a plush toy and a series of baseball cards.

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COLLAGE OF MEMORABILIA

Years of Memories... in Print

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I’ve been working with Rio Metro for about nine years now. The Customer Service Team comprises of 5 employees, including myself.

Customers call about the cost of a ticket. We get a lot of common questions on how often the train runs in a day, and if we run on weekends. I like the interaction I get to have with our customers. We all as a team in Customer Service, go above and beyond for our customers.

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- Eric Murphy, Customer Service Agent, www.riometro.org | www.travelnewmex.com | Rio Metro RTD/ New Mexico Rail Runner Express

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Always in Season The unique roadrunner-inspired design of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express stands out beautifully against the diverse New Mexico landscape, no matter what the season.

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I’ve been working with the New Mexico Rail Runner now for seventeen years. My job is to maintain and operate a safe railroad. My staff is 18; I also oversee the Herzog contract which is about 150. What I like about my job is actually meeting the people. It’s the people that make this service good. Seeing how this thing has grown into the entity it is now, really brings, and not only me, but I think it really gives a lot of people a lot of pride in what we’ve accomplished.

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www.riometro.org | www.travelnewmex.com | SPRING 2020 Assistant - Robert Gonzales,

Director of Rail, New Mexico Rail Runner Express

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”

V

Read T o Me B ook

munity al and safety outreach Out in the Com d to providing education t events, library nner Express is committe

Drive K ick-Off

t Ou The New Mexico Rail Ru games to National Nigh y partner. From baseball nit mu o Metro services in Ri com g d tin goo mo a pro ng and bei out and about nd fou be th en oft can ff sta Runner also partners wi storytimes to school fairs, d by the train. The Rail cte ne con its es ts lag sen vil d pre an Balloon Fiesta, as well as the cities, towns, pueblos, buquerque International Al the as h suc nts eve al major loc at the Santa Fe Depot. annual Santa’s Village the e lik nts eve e tur na own sig

“

We provide all the maintenance for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. I’ve been working for Herzog and the Rail Runner for the past fifteen years. I actually started as a cleaner in 2006 and I worked my way up. The mechanical department has 21 employees, not including myself.

One thing I think our passengers may find interesting is that all the maintenance we do is done outside in the elements, and our people do a really excellent job maintaining this equipment.

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- Larry Anaya, Mechanical Manager,

www.riometro.org | www.travelnewmex.com | SPRING Herzog Transit Services, Inc.2020

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New Mexico Rail Runner Express Station Openings July 14, 2006

December 17, 2008

Downtown ABQ

South Capitol

Los Ranchos/ Journal Center

Santa Fe Depot

Sandoval County/ US 550

Isleta Pueblo August 1, 2009

December 11, 2006

Santa Fe County/ NM 599

Los Lunas February 2, 2007

March 22, 2010

Belen

Kewa

April 20, 2007

August 29, 2011

Bernalillo County

Sandia Pueblo

April 27, 2007

April 7, 2014

Downtown Bernalillo

Montaño April 24, 2017

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Zia Road

I made my debut appearance at the Albuquerque Isotopes game on May 2, 2014. I can be spotted at schools, libraries, community events, and even on the train promoting rail safety. I love to help with rail safety presentations, give high-fives, and show off my dancing skills wherever I go. I make an appearance at about 30 events a year. My favorite saying is “Look, Listen, Live”, which I act out with my wings (since roadrunners www.travelnewmex.com | SPRING 2020can’t talk!).

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- Trax, The Mascot, New Mexico Rail Runner Express

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Community Centered Driven by our Connections As the state’s only commuter rail, The New Mexico Rail Runner Express runs along a 100-mile corridor through Valencia, Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties.

On July 14, 2021, the train celebrates 15 years of providing service, linking communities and tribes with stops at 15 stations and more than 60 bus connections along the way.

Take a ride with us. Your adventure begins the moment you step on the train.

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